Not only did Cyril Baldock of Australia, a life member of Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club and 7-time national surf-swim and rescue/resuscitation champion, complete a crossing of the English Channel for the second time, but he also became the oldest human in history to make such a crossing.
Two-time Half Century Club member Baldock was 70 years and 9 months at the time of his crossing – 4 months older than previous record-holder Dr. Roger Allsopp.
What may be even more mind-boggling as his chronological age is his remarkably quick time of 12 hours 45 minutes, faster than more than half of all the English Channel swimmers in history.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.